Getting in shape, one app at a time – the conclusion (and results)

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One of my goals for this summer was to get in shape using nothing more then my smartphone, apps, and some good, old-fashioned motivation. This would save me the cost of a gym membership and, hopefully, give us all some insights into how technology can help us achieve some non-technology oriented goals.

A few weeks ago I gave you part two of my app-based fitness challenge and now here’s the third and final part. I’ve tried out more fitness apps since then so I’ll give some brief thoughts on each of them and then we’ll get into the most important part: my final body stats and thoughts on the experiment.

Runkeeper

Runkeeper is pretty much the same as the other standard GPS exercise tracking apps, like Endomondo. It features GPS tracking or manual input for a variety of different exercises and syncs them all with Runkeeper’s servers so you can view your progress on their website. The UI feels a bit dated compared to Endomondo and needs freshening up to incorporate the new design guidelines set by Google since the release of Ice Cream Sandwich. With all the tracking apps basically performing the same function the UI is pretty much the only thing separating these type of apps.

One thing I did quite like about RunKeeper however, is the ability to customize audio cues based on time or distance with plenty of different stats to be notified of.

Zombies, run!

This was the app I was most excited to try out during this experiment and for the most part it’s excellent. There’s a great narrative behind the game, including solid voice acting — the sound of zombies in your ear really gets you pumped during a run. The gameplay aspect keeps you motivated to go out and run so that you can earn items to build up your base.

Where it’s let down however, is the pretty high price tag ($7.99) and the dated UI which harks back to the good old days of Cupcake. I understand that the developers want to make the app available to as many Android versions as possible but Google have taken big steps lately in allowing developers to do this whilst still implementing newer API’s and design guidelines for devices on the newer versions of the OS.

Sit Ups Pro

Sit Ups Pro is very similar to the push up app from part 2 of the series. The app creates a training plan for you and counts the amount of sit ups you perform using the device’s accelerometer and gyroscope. You simply hold the device in landscape in front of your face, and the app counts down each time you rise. It might appear basic, but the developer seems to have put some effort into using the exact right values for the activity, as it doesn’t count for just any motion. The problem I had with this though was that every now and then, it wouldn’t actually count a sit up so I had to do extra (not a huge problem if you are trying to get in shape, but somewhat disheartening).

At the end of each workout it asks you how you found it; too easy, just right, or too hard and then adjusts the following workout accordingly, which is great as the problem I had with Runtastics push up app was that it got too difficult too quickly. The developer also offers similar apps in different exercises such as push ups, squats, and pull ups.

Fitbit

Fitbit is a competitor to MyFitnessPal which was also covered in part 2. It does well exactly what MyFitnessPal did poorly, it’s just a shame that it does poorly what MyFitnessPal does well. As calorie tracking app, the navigation in Fitbit is much better than MyFitnessPal and not nearly as confusing but their database of foods is nowhere near as big as MyFitnessPal’s. You can however add your own if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

I think I prefer Fitbit to MyFitnessPal just because of its simplicity and the app lets you set how vigorous you want to be with your weight loss and even provides the date that you should reach your target weight. There’s also a tracker for your water intake which is handy, we’re always told to drink 8 glasses of water a day but I’ve never actually known how much that is with glasses varying in size. There’s also a weight tracker tab which gives you a graph of the weight values you input over time.

Body stats over the last 6 weeks

Weight: 211.6 lbs (+1.24%)

Waist: 38.6 inches( -2.9%)

Chest: 41.5 inches (+3.6%)

Neck: 15.5 inches (no change)

Body fat: 23.39% (-6.8%)

BMI: 28.7 (+1.04%)

Final results

As we can see from the body stats, there’s been a bit of improvement over when I started six weeks ago, with a decrease in waist and body fat percentage even though my overall weight increased. I still wouldn’t be able to fit in that damn suit (the point of this whole exercise), but it’s progress.

What I’ve learned from this is that there are a plethora of apps out there that will help you get in shape — if you’re determined enough! I obviously wasn’t and I think that comes down to feeling uncomfortable road running, I much prefer a gym setting. For me it requires more motivation to go road running as you’re starting as soon as you leave the door to your house, with a gym you can forget about what’s coming until you arrive there and by that point there’s no going back.

I didn’t manage to fit in the suit and had to borrow my Dad’s, but once I return from vacation next week I’ll be investing in a gym membership and keeping that suit as my short term goal. So, in my case, the experiment proved that I could not save money by using apps to replace the gym and still achieve my fitness goals.

If you’re in a similar position to me then I suggest trying out some apps first. There are more than enough fitness apps to whet your appetite, most of which are free, and you just might save yourself some money on a gym membership.